Here we have a list of questions that almost all students ask of our whale developers.
Exactly who is Charles?
Charles is a fin whale. Fin whales are found all over the world. He is sixty feet long and is made out of plastic and a *lot* of tape.
What do fin whales eat?
Fin whales are called baleen whales. A baleen whale is a very special kind of whale that eats tiny plants and animals called plankton. Other whales eat fish and other small animals in the ocean. Sometimes they travel really fast around a school of fish so they can get them in one place. Then they turn their mouth to face the fish and eat them!
Is there anything special about fin whales?
Actually, fin whales are the fastest whales in the ocean! They are also the second largest of all whales. The largest whale is the blue whale.
Fin whales have very special coloring. They are black on one side and white on the other. This is similar to an Orca or "Killer Whale".
Exactly how long is sixty feet?
Sixty feet is about one and a half of the length of your school bus. The fin whale is so big, that its heart is about the size of a Volkswagon Bug. The aorta of the heart (a chamber in the heart) is so big that a five year old child can fit inside of it.
How big is a baby fin whale?
A baby fin whale would probably be about the size of your family car.
How do fin whales breathe?
Every now and then, a whale comes up to the surface of the water and spouts out air from its blowhole. This this where the whale's air comes in and out. A fin whale has twin blowholes.
Are fin whales endangered?
Yes! Fin whales were among the first hunted with a harpoon gun. Small numbers of fin whales are still hunted in some places of the world because a lot of countries say they need the whale meat.
How many fin whales travel in a pod?
Usually around 6 or 7 fin whales travel in a pod, but it has been reported that as many as 300 have been seen traveling together!
If you have any more questions about fin whales or Charles, all you have to do is e-mail us!